Truly the best way to explore the vibrant world of yarns with a variety of patterns and learn about Turkish history is to go to the Istanbul Carpet Museum. There is just one carpet museum in Turkey, and it is located in Istanbul. Carpets and rugs dating back to the Seljuk and Ottoman eras are on display here, with the emphasis being on Turkish pieces. This museum is a must-see for anybody interested in vibrant carpets of all shapes, sizes, and eras.
Introducing Istanbul Carpet Museum
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque was chosen as the location for the construction of this museum in 1979; hence, it is also referred to as the Sultan Ahmed Museum. After a few years, the building that housed the museum was repurposed as the Hagia Sophia Mosque, while the structure that housed the Carpet Museum was transformed into the Ibrahim Pasha Palace. This museum has the only remaining Konya and Milas carpets from the 16th and 17th centuries, as well as carpets from the classical era, Caucasian and Turkmen carpets, and the most expensive of the Konya and Milas carpets.
The architecture of the Istanbul Carpet Museum
The Istanbul Carpet Museum has a stone ceiling, and this roof throws a shadow upon the door that leads into the museum. There is a connection between the museum’s design and the large and tiny boards used to exhibit carpets and turntables. This museum has extremely few windows since the architects wanted to protect the rugs from the damaging effects of direct sunlight.
Features of the interior of Carpet Museum
The Istanbul Carpet Museum has been renovated many times to update and increase its condition and quality with high-security standards and a maintenance system to preserve its works. Among these cases, there are double doors with an electronic system when visitors enter from one hall to another; The reason for using these doors is to maintain the humidity and temperature conditions of each part in order to better protect centuries-old carpets, along with other advanced technologies, to prevent from any damage (humidity, decay or even sunlight) to the works.
In this museum, there are also more than 800 pieces of antiques and a large panel about common motifs in carpets with full explanations for visitors.
Sections of the Carpet Museum in Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul’s Carpet Museum is a two-story structure. The main entrance and the larger rugs are on the ground level, while the smaller ones are above. Works from various time periods are shown in the museum’s various galleries.
-
The first gallery of the Istanbul Carpet Museum
Holiban carpets date back to the Anatolian era and have motifs that are both abstract and geometric in nature. In this section of the museum, you’ll find some of the most well-known carpets in all of Turkey, as well as pieces from the Meluk al-Tawaifi era and Osak carpets from the 16th and 17th centuries.
-
The second gallery of the Istanbul Carpet Museum
The second gallery of the Istanbul Carpet Museum is home to antique rugs and carpets from mosques all across Istanbul, including the Mustafa Mosque. These rugs are from the Eastern and Central Anatolian regions and date from the 15th to the 20th centuries.
-
The third gallery of the Istanbul Carpet Museum
In the museum’s third exhibition, visitors may see massive Osak carpets from the 17th and 18th centuries, carpets from the Ottoman era, and depictions of the Suleymaniye Mosque and the Blue Mosque. This is also where you’ll find the antique rug and carpet collection.
Sightseeing places around Istanbul Carpet Museum
The Fatih neighborhood, where the Istanbul Carpet Museum can be found, is a popular destination for visitors to the city. Its convenient location means that many museum-goers also have time to explore the numerous other attractions in the area. The Bosphorus Strait, the Hagia Sophia Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Ibrahim Pasha’s Residence, Sulaymaniyah Mosque, Fatih Mosque, the second-hand book market, the Fener Greek quarter, the spice market, Aksaray Shopping Center, Bayazid Mosque, St. Irene Church, and… are all within easy traveling distance of the museum.
Hotels near Istanbul Carpet Museum
It is best to first investigate the lodging options in the area before visiting any location. The Bos Sultan Ahmed Hotel, the four-star Arcadia Blue Hotel, the three-star Apple Tree Hotel, the five-star Doso Dosi Downton Hotel, the three-star Peak Hotel, the Ottoman Hotel, etc. are only a few of the hotels near the Istanbul Carpet Museum.
Istanbul Carpet Museum restaurants
There are several cafés and restaurants in the Fateh area. You may relax and enjoy your meals in Istanbul while visiting the Afresh Museum. Dishes from a wide variety of ethnicities are represented at each of these eateries. Some of the eateries in the area are the Haft Tepe Rooftop Restaurant, Mr. Cook Restaurant, and Mela Asheg Istanbul Outdoor Cafe.
Access ways to the Istanbul Carpet Museum
The Istanbul Carpet Museum is accessible via bus, Istanbul Metro, Istanbul Marmara Train Line, and Istanbul tram, all of which are very inexpensive options for traveling in Turkey and Istanbul.
